Jordanian student uses solar power to fuel hydrogen cars [View all]

[nationalize the fed]

2015-02-02 By Mohammad Ghazal in Amman


Engineering student Qais Sabra works on a design for his generator. Mohammad Ghazal/Al-Shorfa

The high cost of fuel in Jordan and an interest in renewable energy topics have inspired Jordanian engineering student Qais Sabra to design and invent a home solar-powered generator to fuel hydrogen-powered cars...

...Al-Shorfa : What was the genesis of the concept and how did it move into the design stage?

Qais Sabra : Since I began my engineering studies I have taken several courses on renewable energy, and have also constantly followed the latest developments in technology. In following the subject, it became apparent that while many auto manufacturing companies have begun producing hydrogen-powered cars, the high cost of establishing large refuelling stations for such cars was a challenge. Hence the genesis of the idea of a home generator that enables anyone who wishes to own this car to refuel it at home at the lowest cost. I began designing the generator and developing the concept last year after presenting the idea to several academics and experts at the university, who provided me with support to design it.

Al-Shorfa : How does the generator operate?

Sabra : The generator consists, firstly, of a module of photovoltaic cells, which captures the solar energy that is abundant in Jordan, then converts it into electricity to supply the generator with enough power to operate. By incorporating this module we dispense with expensive conventional fuel, and there is no additional cost to generating electricity from the sun. The module has a capacity of 800 to 1,000 watts...

Al-Shorfa : How much does the generator cost?

Sabra : The cost of the home generator ranges between 2,000 and 2,500 Jordanian dinars ($2,821-$3,526). But as demand increases and the concept gains wider acceptance the price will drop significantly. The generator has a life span of 25 years and this (translates) into huge savings especially as no additional costs are incurred after installation other than water consumption. The generator will become available during the current year, God willing...MORE

Full Article: http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/features/2015/02/02/feature-02

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Solar Hydrogen: The Fuel of the Future
http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Hydrogen-Future-Mario-Pagliaro/dp/1849731950/

Not exactly a new thing

Twenty Hydrogen Myths by noted environmentalist Amory Lovins
http://www.rmi.org/Knowledge-Center/Library/E03-05_TwentyHydrogenMyths

Myth #3. Making hydrogen uses more energy than it yields, so it’s prohibitively inefficient.

Any conversion from one form of energy to another consumes more useful energy than it yields.
If it could do the opposite, creating energy out of nothing, you could create a perpetual-motion
machine violating the laws of physics. Conversion losses are unavoidable; the issue is whether
they’re worth incurring. If they were intolerable as a matter of principle, as Myth #3 implies,
then we’d have to stop making gasoline from crude oil...